Khashoggi case is a tremendous black eye for Mohammad Bin Salman; Mark Feldstein tells ILNA

Mark Feldstein spent 20 years as an award-winning on-air investigative correspondent at CNN, ABC News and various local television stations. On assignment, he was beaten up, subpoenaed and sued in the US; detained and censored by government authorities in Egypt; and escorted out of the country under armed guard in Haiti. Feldstein is regularly quoted as a media analyst by leading outlets in the US and abroad and has testified as an expert witness on First Amendment issues in court and before Congress.

ILNA: In recent years, we have been witnessing a wave of hostage-taking of journalists and their use as a forum between terrorists and various governments. What is the reason for that?

Well, this has been going on a long time although perhaps it's increased over time. By definition, journalists have access to the news media so they're a good way for terrorists to get their message out; kidnapping a journalist is guaranteed to generate public attention from fellow journalists.

ILNA: What mechanisms should be taken internationally to protect journalists and critics, given the recent case of Jamal Khashoggi and Victoria Marinova?

 I don't know.

ILNA: On the Marinova case, a suspected has arrested and Bulgaria Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the suspected misuse of European Union funds. Do you think this cases will change anything and will somehow follow her legacy?

 I don't know.

ILNA: It’s been 12 years after the murder of Anna Politkovskaya. Since that time has things got any better for journalists around the world?

 I don't know.

ILNA: What will be the consequences of Khashoggi case for Saudi Arabia at the regional and international level?  How will this affect on the political future of Bin Salman?

Hard to say.  It's a tremendous black eye for Bin Salman and gives the lie to the claim that he is a progressive reformer interested in advancing human rights.  But whether that hurts him much in Saudia Arabia is unclear.

ILNA: Some say United States and Donald Trump had a delayed reaction to the Khashoggi case. What’s the reason of that?

 I agree and I think it's because Trump seems to have a soft spot for Saudia Arabia that defies logic or US national security interests. 

Interview: Kamran Baradaran

Edited by: Azadeh Keshvardoust